George Lawrence Pilkington

1865-1897. Missionary to Africa. Born in Dublin into an old Protestant landlord family, he was educated at Uppingham and Cambridge. A promising classical scholar, he was converted in 1885. Although lacking theological training, he felt called to Christian service and went to Uganda under the Church Missionary Society in 1890. Because of his keen linguistic skills, he undertook the task of translating the Bible into the Luganda tongue. In his personal ministry he stressed the need for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He advocated in his writings the principle of the self-supporting and propagating indigenous church, and contended most European missionaries should go to those areas where a strong, aggressive national church was active. By reinforcing the work already undertaken by native Christians, they would enhance the effects of the existing spiritual momentum. He was killed in a Sudanese militia uprising in Uganda.